Harry Potter tours

[glassslipper2004]

Has anyone ever done one of the day-long Harry Potter tours while in London? There seem to be a few different options, including just staying in London and also including (all during one day) trips to Oxford, Lacock, and elsewhere. We'll be in London for a few days at the end of November (chilly, I know) and are thinking that this might be a really fun way to see the area.

 

[sayhello]

Has anyone ever done one of the day-long Harry Potter tours while in London? There seem to be a few different options, including just staying in London and also including (all during one day) trips to Oxford, Lacock, and elsewhere. We'll be in London for a few days at the end of November (chilly, I know) and are thinking that this might be a really fun way to see the area.

Oooo! What a great idea! I totally forgot about those. I'm (hopefully) going to be in England next September, and that sounds like a *great* way to spend a day. I'll be interested to see what info you get!

Sayhello

 

[westcoastsunshine]

Thanks for the info.
My daughter is going to live in London
next year and is a huge Harry Potter
fan. I will pass this on to her
as I know she would love to
do a tour.

S

 

[NHdisneylover]

This is not a guided tour, but we followed this free self guided tour when we went to London this summer. It was so well written and easy to follow and we had a blast. We stretched it over two days (I cannot imagine pulling it all off in one, but you could do it in one and a half) and took our time and checked things out as we went.
Everyone (parents, 11 year old boy and 13 year old girl) had a blast with it and it was a great way to start our trip and get oriented to the city.

http://www.the-magician.co.uk/

 

[sayhello]

This is not a guided tour, but we followed this free self guided tour when we went to London this summer. It was so well written and easy to follow and we had a blast. We stretched it over two days (I cannot imagine pulling it all off in one, but you could do it in one and a half) and took our time and checked things out as we went.
Everyone (parents, 11 year old boy and 13 year old girl) had a blast with it and it was a great way to start our trip and get oriented to the city.

http://www.the-magician.co.uk/

Thanks, Hadley! I'm definitely going to check this out. What a great way to see the sights!

Sayhello

 

[NHdisneylover]

Thanks, Hadley! I'm definitely going to check this out. What a great way to see the sights!

Sayhello

It was truly a lot of fun. Are you the same Sayhello who was posting comments on Erik's cruise blog?

 

[sayhello]

It was truly a lot of fun. Are you the same Sayhello who was posting comments on Erik's cruise blog?

That would be me! I posted a detailed Trip Report here for my Med Cruise with the ABD add-on, and Erik commented a lot, and was so anticipating his & Jason's cruise. So I *had* to follow his blog! It was a lot of fun.

Sayhello

 

[glassslipper2004]

Thanks, Hadley! I have gathered information on a variety of tours (with an amazing range of prices) and am conferring with our friends to see what we all would like to do. I'd really like to include a side trip to Oxford, so we're trying to decide how exactly to fit that in too. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes.

 

[NHdisneylover]

That would be me! I posted a detailed Trip Report here for my Med Cruise with the ABD add-on, and Erik commented a lot, and was so anticipating his & Jason's cruise. So I *had* to follow his blog! It was a lot of fun.

Sayhello

Fun! It is odd, I never have been on this board (not looking at an ABD) but I noticed the HP reference when scrolling through on the main page and right way "met" someone I knew of. What a nice community this is I'll have to look up your blog some day when I have time to kill.

Thanks, Hadley! I have gathered information on a variety of tours (with an amazing range of prices) and am conferring with our friends to see what we all would like to do. I'd really like to include a side trip to Oxford, so we're trying to decide how exactly to fit that in too. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes.

Oh I do hope you'll post about Oxford. Somehow we never made it out there this summer. There is just SO much to do in London. I hope you enjoy your trip.

 

[sayhello]

Fun! It is odd, I never have been on this board (not looking at an ABD) but I noticed the HP reference when scrolling through on the main page and right way "met" someone I knew of. What a nice community this is I'll have to look up your blog some day when I have time to kill.

It's a small, small world! Glad to get to know you. The links to my trip reports are in my signature when you get around to it!

Sayhello

 

[disneylove69]

I did one of the Harry Potter tours. It included the Cotswolds, Oxford, and Warwick Castle. The Castle was the best. It is owned by the people who own Madame Tussauds(the wax museum people). As far as the Harry Potter part they really didnt film there. Only on a stairwell in movie one where they are getting ready to enter the Great Hall for the hat sorting ceremony. The "great" hall was not filmed there but it takes on some resemblence. They tell you this when you get there at the end. You do get to hear the story of how Alice and Wonderland was created there.

 

[Sharkbyte]

What is the harry Potter tour in London?? We may be going this spring and we are huge fans. Do tell....

 

[sharonkurland]

On one of our trips to England, my husband and I did quite a bit of "Harry Potter touring" on our own, just based on research and guide books. A lot of the stuff we saw in Oxford in 2006 can be found here:

http://sharonheg.wordpress.com/2006/08/21/08-21-06-oxford-harry-potter-references-avenue-q-tescos/

We also visited Platform 9-3/4 on that trip:

http://sharonheg.wordpress.com/2006/08/20/08-20-06-buckingham-palace-british-museum-wandering/

And we also made a "pit stop" to see the 165y/o still-in-use train station that became the movie's "Hogwarts Station", during our trip to England in 2010:

http://sharonheg.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/uk-trip-04-27-10-goathland-whitby-and-singing-gospe/

Finally, if anyone wants to read about ALL of our trips to England (including, ahem, singing at the Royal Albert Hall. Three times!), just go here and follow the links:

http://sharonheg.wordpress.com/category/travel/england-travel/

 

[sayhello]

Hey, I read an article on Pacsafe's facebook page that recommended 7 "odd" tours. Not sure why Harry Potter qualified, but they had this link to a company that does all sorts of Harry Potter Tours. Thought I'd share! I'm definitely going to check them out.

http://www.londontaxitour.com/london-taxi-tour-sights-harry-potter-tour.htm

Sayhello

 

[SPBendersky]

How is the new park attraction? I heard long lines and not as good as anticipated.

 

[sayhello]

How is the new park attraction? I heard long lines and not as good as anticipated.

Well, what I've heard is long lines, and way too small. That what is there is really good, but it's so small that it easily is overwhelmed by people, and you end up in crowds everywhere (the shops, the attractions, etc). I've not heard anyone say it's not worth visiting, but they say it's not a place you'll go back to over & over, and it's a stressful day due to the crowds.

Sayhello

 

[petchie]

We used http://www.walks.com/ and did the Jack the Ripper walk. We were lucky and were able to do it the night Donald Rumbelow, the authority on the ripper, was the guide. It was amazing!

Next time I want to do the Beatles one and maybe a few others

 

[gailg3horses]

And it was so crowded we just left immediately. I know it is a holiday week but the area just seems too small for the hype. Not sure if we will even try to go back despite being big harry potter fans. Oh well. It was an expensive disappointment.

 

[sayhello]

And it was so crowded we just left immediately. I know it is a holiday week but the area just seems too small for the hype. Not sure if we will even try to go back despite being big harry potter fans. Oh well. It was an expensive disappointment.

That's sad to hear. I was so anticipating WWOHP, but it sounds like they were a little *too* authentic, making it as crowded and chaotic as in the movies...

Don't know when I'll make it there...

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

Many of the Hogwart's school scenes were filmed at Oxford University.

In several of the films, Oxford provided Hogwart's staircase notably in the first film where Professor McGonagall greets the schoolchildren upon their arrival. Oxford also provided the Great Hall on which Hogwart's dining room was modelled (pictured) and the Library which provided the scenes for Hogwart's infirmary and Ron’s dancing lesson with Professor McGonagall.

In 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' and 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', Oxford provided the settings for the 'defence against the Dark Arts' scene in which Mad-eye Moody demonstrates the three unforgivable curses and Malfoy's transformation into a ferret.

Thanks! I was definitely planning on going to Oxford, so this gives me some extra things to look for!

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